So How’s That Marathon Training Going?

Funny that I haven’t written about running since I wrote about qualifying for Boston. That was last October. Forever ago in raising kid years. And yet running is such a huge part of what I do and honestly who I am. I feel like I’m becoming 12 years old again. Do tweens blog? Not really. Do they instead do YouTube, text, Instagram, and SnapChat? Um, yeah. They write and watch and read and see in short snippets of time. Ain’t nobody got time to read a blog post. Unless it’s in list form of course. So my running is being documented on Instagram mostly. With a few Facebook posts thrown in because that’s what old people do. I can take a few pictures, write a few lines, tag a few hashtags and move on with my day.

Weird.

Because only a year ago I wrote about running a lot. My journey of running marathons again – first just to finish, then to improve, and finally to qualify for Boston.

But then what?

That’s why I’ve taken to Instagram instead of my blog to talk about my training.

But with another marathon less than three weeks away, I needed to put more words to it. Also, it’s taper time so my head is a mess. Also my shoulders are wrinkly.

Marathon training for Grandma’s(again) is both great and weird and tiring and normal and what I do now. Only two years ago I was rediscovering the 20 mile training run – with my music plan, my routes, my hydration, my fuel, my time. Now I know all of that stuff. This time around it’s more how can I run faster, further, and get stronger. How do I keep myself from injury. How do I manage my run and still get my daughters to dance and gymnastics on time? How does training feel as I continue to age(dammit) and how much harder do I have to work to maintain or gain speed. And why don’t my toned legs make my face a little less wrinkly.

So this time around – this training cycle is good. My long runs are faster than ever. My short runs are even better. My daughter has made me run some speed work(I’ve never done speed work before) with her since she ran track this Spring. Our new neighborhood is ALL HILLS so I think that is adding to my overall strength and fitness. Now all I need is some favorable weather in Duluth – and I think a PR to beat my 3:48 is clearly doable. I’d love to run a sub-3:40 marathon – and maybe the sun and moon and stars will align that day so I can do just that.

22 years ago when I first started running I never thought I’d have this kind of speed. I’ve always been more tortoise than hare. But at 46 years old I’ve learned that the human body is an amazing thing. But the work is hard and long..so it’s a good thing that I love it. And damn, if Harriette can still run marathons at 92 years old – well I figure my marathon training career is really just beginning.

I have two more marathons on the books for the next calendar year – Twin Cities again in October and Boston in April. I never know what will come after that or in-between – but I do know that I plan to run until I can no longer run. There’s something hard-to-explain sweet that continues to happen between me and the quiet, empty roads in the pre-dawn hours that I never want to end.

So don’t think I’m not running because I don’t post about here. Just know that I’m sharing my thoughts quickly like the tweens do so I can save my time for more important matters like binge watching Game Of Thrones or obsessing over a new pair of running shoes.

(No, I didn’t burn that many calories – I just can’t figure out how to change my weight from 325….)

OH and one more thing to share – Jed and the girls bought me an actual, live(okay not live) GPS fancy Garmin watch as they do believe I am the only person who runs marathons and trains without one. So now I can really see my splits and “stuff” and all the fancy stuff that GPS watches do. I was so excited about it until I tried it out for the first time and could not see the fancy splits and “stuff” because I don’t run with my readers on. Damn you 46 – sometimes you are a real pain.

About Tracy

My name is Tracy Morrison and I live in sunny Minnesota. I'm neither British nor a nun - I'm just a Midwesterner with a headache. This is mainly a humor and lifestyle blog that documents the lighter side of parenting. I am an ex-corporate ladder climber turned freelance writer, social media manager, world traveler, and marathon runner. I would love for you to contact me at tracy@sellabitmum.com

Comments

You should blog about running more often! I love to read your posts even though I always see your running “snippets” on Instagram. I’m keeping my fingers, legs and toes crossed (and anything else I can cross) for favorable weather up in Duluth. I can’t wait to see you there!

I hurried to this post because I’m fascinated by your running (and a little jealous but mostly super-excited for you!) and then saw you linked to me.

Sweet lady.
I love you.

And I am so inspired by your words “the human body is an amazing thing.”
Were you really more tortoise? Because I just assumed that you were always a speedy runner.

One of the reasons (among many, including laziness) that I stopped training was that after running 3 marathons in a year all at pretty much the same pace (4:17. 2:20, 4:13) I figured that was my ceiling. Or floor. Or whatever.

I guess if I changed up my training and worked really hard, I could maybemaybemaybe sneak under 4 hours. But I don’t know if I have it in me.

I love you and this. I love that you and running go together like this and seeing your posts on Instagram continually inspires me. Can’t wait to cheer you on!Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..5 Reasons To Practice Yoga

Miss your blogs! You are such a good Writer – Runner – Photographer. I am selfish love the longer blogs more then the shorter other communication means. Because you such a good writer! Love You – Good Luck in Duluth

Hahahaha, the irony of the GPS watch and not being able to read it without cheaters – Garmin really ought to keep that in mind with their products (maybe they do? I’m not versed in the options available 🙂

Way to go.! This is inspiring, I feel like I’m SO SLOW when I run (and so proud when I hit a pace of 9:15 for my 5K!) I rarely run with hills, so I think that will be my next goal.

Way to rock it!

Welcome

Hi and welcome to Sellabit Mum. My name is Tracy Morrison and I live in sunny Minnesota. I'm neither British nor a nun - I'm just a Midwesterner with a headache. This is mainly a humor and lifestyle blog that documents the lighter side of parenting three girls. I run marathons and love to talk about fitness. We also love to travel and model social good with our family. I am an ex-corporate ladder climber turned writer, social media maven(not really) and ruler of my own little universe(very small). Aren't we all. I would love for you to contact me at tracy@sellabitmum.com